Contact: 
Cassandra Robinson
301-860-3505
crobinson@bowiestate.edu

Bowie State Hosts Food Day Symposium

(Bowie, Md.) -- Understanding linkages between diet and disease will be the focus of a Food Day Symposium sponsored by Bowie State University (BSU) on Oct. 24 to help students and local residents learn important elements of healthy eating. The event, to be held in room 102 of the Center for Learning and Technology, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., will also feature a live demonstration of healthy cooking techniques by chefs of BSU Dining Services

This is one of hundreds of events planned nationwide for Food Day to raise awareness of food issues and advocate around the theme "It's time to eat real, America." The Bowie State symposium will feature scientists and nutritionists from the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center with presentations on such issues as the effect of certain food on risk factors of chronic disease, research into the role of nutrients on disease prevention, safe food handling procedures to reduce contamination on the farm and in the home, the impact of whole grains in the diet, and reading and understanding food labels.

"Our goal is to help people better understand how food choices can affect their overall health by hearing from the scientists who are actively involved in studying these issues," said event organizer Anne Osano, assistant professor in the BSU Department of Natural Sciences. An open forum panel discussion with a plant biologist, nutritionist and food preparation specialists will allow audience dialogue.

Keynote speaker Ellen W. Harris, acting director of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, will discuss why Food Day is important and what individuals can do to "eat real."

The event is hosted by students in the Bowie State chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences and sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, BSU Dining Services and the Bowie State Climate Commitment Coordinating Committee.

For more information contact Anne Osano, at 301-860-3368 or aosano@bowiestate.edu.